← H2908 H2910 →

טָחָה

𐤈𐤇𐤄

ṭâchâh

H2909 verb

SILEX Entry

Root טחה to stretch, to bend, to draw (a bow)

Definition

To stretch, especially in the context of drawing or bending a bow in preparation for shooting arrows. The verb primarily describes the act of exerting tension or bringing something into a taut state, with specific reference to archery in most occurrences. Extension to the launching or shooting of a bow may occur by metonymy but is secondary to the core concept of stretching or bending.

Semantic Range

to stretch (a bow), to bend, to draw (as an archer), to launch (by extension); (of bow) be stretched or prepared for shooting

Root / Etymology

Root טחה (ṭ-ḥ-h), belonging to a group of verbs denoting acts of stretching, bending, or covering, though this particular root is rare and its broader cognate relationships are uncertain. The specific verbal stem relates to the act of stretching a bow, from which the derived meaning 'to shoot (an arrow)' may arise contextually.

Historical & Contextual Notes

טָחָה is a rare verb, attested only a few times in the Hebrew Bible (notably in Isaiah 66:19 and Psalm 64:4 [English v.3]), always in the specific context of archery. In biblical usage, it never refers generically to shooting or stretching; its sense is highly specialized. Archery imagery in Israelite literature often connoted skill, strength, or divine action, but in lexicographical usage, טָחָה remains focused on the physical act. The verb is distinct from mainstream Hebrew roots for 'shoot' (e.g., ירה, yara, 'to throw, shoot (arrows)'), and its active participle or noun forms are not attested. Later Hebrew and Aramaic do not use this root, and no connection to terms for covering, as seen with other homographic roots, is evident here. Traditional translations such as 'stretch a bow' capture the action well, though some English versions read 'shoot' based on context; the lexical nuance remains on the drawing or tensioning of the bow, not the firing of the arrow itself.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to stretch a bow, as an archer; (bow-) shot.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

טחה (ṭ-ḥ-h) — stretching, bending, drawing taut (a bow)

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2909-01 כִּ/מְטַחֲוֵ֣י kimetachavey HR/Vkrmpc about a bowshot like stretching-ones of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2909-01 Genesis 21:16 כִּ/מְטַחֲוֵ֣י kimetachavey HR/Vkrmpc about a bowshot like stretching-ones of
← H2908 Hebrew Lexicon H2910 →